Amortization of expensive optical components

ABSTRACT

A laser system includes an array of lasers that emit light at a number of different, fixed wavelengths. A group of optical transport systems connect to the laser system. Each of the optical transport systems is configured to modulate data signals onto the light from the laser system to create optical signals and transmit the optical signals on one or more optical fibers.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Optical transport systems typically modulate a data signal on light toform an optical signal, and transmit the optical signal on an opticalfiber. One type of optical transport system is a wavelength-divisionmultiplexing (WDM) system that multiplexes multiple optical signals on asingle optical fiber using different wavelengths of light. Currently,the most expensive components, in optical transport systems, include theoptical-electrical-optical (O-E-O) components, such as the lasers.

SUMMARY

According to one implementation, a facility may include a laser bank, amultiplexer, a splitter, and a group of optical transport systems. Thelaser bank may include a group of lasers that output light at a numberof different, fixed wavelengths. The multiplexer may connect to thelaser bank. The multiplexer may receive the light, at the different,fixed wavelengths, output by the lasers, multiplex the light to formmultiplexed light, and output the multiplexed light. The splitter mayreceive the multiplexed light, and split the multiplexed light intoinstances of multiplexed light. Each of the optical transport systemsmay receive one of the instances of multiplexed light, demultiplex theone of the instances of multiplexed light to recover the light, modulatea data signal on the recovered light to obtain an optical signal, andtransmit the optical signal on an optical fiber.

According to another implementation, a facility may include a firstlaser bank that includes a first group of lasers; a second laser bankthat includes a second group of lasers; a first multiplexer connected tothe first laser bank; a second multiplexer connected to the second laserbank; a first amplifier connected to the first multiplexer; a secondamplifier connected to the second multiplexer; a combiner connected tothe first amplifier and the second amplifier; a splitter connected tothe combiner; and a group of optical transport systems connected to thesplitter.

According to yet another implementation, a facility may include a firstlaser bank that includes a first group of lasers; a second laser bankthat includes a second group of lasers; a first multiplexer connected tothe first laser bank; a second multiplexer connected to the second laserbank; a first amplifier connected to the first multiplexer; a secondamplifier connected to the second multiplexer; a first splitterconnected to the first amplifier; a second splitter connected to thesecond amplifier; and a group of optical transport systems connected tothe first splitter and the second splitter.

According to a further implementation, one or more systems may include alaser system that includes a group of lasers that emit light atdifferent, fixed wavelengths; and a group of optical transport systemsthat connect to the laser system, where each of the optical transportsystems may modulate data signals onto the light from the laser systemto create optical signals and transmit the optical signals on one ormore optical fibers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more systems and/ormethods described herein and, together with the description, explainthese systems and/or methods. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an optical transport system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a transceiver that may be used in an input/outputunit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a multiplexing of optical signals ontoan optical fiber;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a portion of a facility in which systems andmethods, described herein, may be implemented;

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating one particular arrangement ofcomponents of the laser bank of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of the laser bank of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating yet another particular arrangement ofcomponents of the laser bank of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of components of atransmitter of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example of a process for transmittingoptical signals on optical fibers;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a portion of a facility according to anotherimplementation described herein;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a portion of a facility according to yet anotherimplementation described herein;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a portion of a facility according to a furtherimplementation described herein;

FIG. 11 is a diagram that generally depicts systems that may be includedwithin a facility;

FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating one particular arrangement ofcomponents of a laser system of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of a laser system of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating one particular arrangement ofcomponents of a portion of an optical transport system of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of a portion of an optical transport system of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an optical transport system 100. An “opticaltransport system,” as used herein, may include any system that receivesan electronic data signal, modulates light based on the electronic datasignal to form an optical signal, and transmits the optical signal on anoptical fiber. Examples of an optical transport system include a router,a switch, an access point, a WDM transport device, or a system thatincludes multiple routers, switches, access points, and/or WDM transportdevices, or a combination of a router, a switch, an access point, and/ora WDM transport device.

As shown in FIG. 1, optical transport system 100 may include a set ofinput/output (“I/O”) units 110-1, . . . , 110-A (collectively referredto as “I/O units 110,” and individually as “I/O unit 110”) (where A>1),a switching complex 120, and a controller 130. Any of the components,shown in FIG. 1, may be a logical entity whose functions are distributedamong the physical components of optical transport system 100. Forexample, the functions of controller 130 may be performed by I/O units110 and/or switching complex 120.

I/O unit 110 may include a component, or a set of components, toreceive, transmit, and/or process traffic on an optical fiber. Forexample, an I/O unit 110 may correspond to an interface port, such as aninter-system interface port that connects to an optical fiber fortransporting traffic to a location external to optical transport system100, or an intra-system interface port that connects to an optical fiberfor transporting traffic to a location internal to optical transportsystem 100. Alternatively, or additionally, I/O unit 110 may correspondto a line card, or the like, that includes some processing capabilitiesand a set of interface ports. Alternatively, or additionally, I/O unit110 may include an I/O subsystem that includes a set of line cards, eachof which may include a set of interface ports.

In one implementation, I/O unit 110 may function as an input interfacethat receives packets on an optical fiber. In another implementation,I/O unit 110 may function as an output interface that transmits packetson an optical fiber. In yet another implementation, I/O unit 110 mayfunction as both an input interface and an output interface.

Switching complex 120 may include a connection or a group of connectionsto facilitate communication among I/O units 110 and/or controller 130.For example, switching complex 120 may include a single switch fabric ormultiple switch fabrics associated with a single device or multiple,connected devices. Also, or alternatively, switching complex 120 mayinclude processors, memories, and/or paths that permit communicationamong controller 130 and I/O units 110.

Controller 130 may include an engine that can make switching decisions,an engine that can make routing decisions, or an engine that can makeboth switching and routing decisions. In one implementation, controller130 may include one or more processors, microprocessors, applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programming gate arrays(FPGAs), and/or processing logic that may be optimized for networkingand/or communications and that may make a decision of how to switch orroute packets received by the I/O units 110. Controller 130 may use oneor more, of a number of, techniques for making the routing/switchingdecisions.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a transceiver 200 that may be used in an I/O unit110. As shown in FIG. 2, transceiver 200 may include a receiver (RX) 210and a transmitter (TX) 220. Receiver 210 may include a detector 212, anamplifier 214, and a data recovery unit 216. Detector 212 may include abroadband detector, such as a PIN diode or an avalanche photodiode, thatcan detect light across an entire range of wavelengths from 1,310 nm to1,600 nm. Amplifier 214 may include a trans-impedance amplifier that canamplify the signal from detector 212. Data recovery unit 216 may includea device that recovers digital data from an analog signal.

Transmitter 220 may include a laser 222, an electrical processor 224, adriver 226, and a modulator 228. Laser 222 may include a fixed ortunable laser. A fixed laser is constructed to output light at aparticular wavelength (usually in the C-band of approximately 1530nm-1565 nm). A tunable laser is constructed to be able to be tuned tooutput light in one of several possible wavelengths (also typically inthe C-band). Tunable lasers are generally more expensive than fixedlasers. Both fixed and tunable lasers are temperature-dependent in thatthe lasers drift between wavelengths based on temperature.Thermo-electric cooling is sometimes used to maintain a laser at acertain temperature using a control loop.

Electrical processor 224 may include a processor, or processing logic,that receives an electrical data signal and performs some form ofprocessing on the data signal. Driver 226 may include a driver circuitthat controls the operation of modulator 228. Modulator 228 may includea modulator circuit that modulates the light from laser 222 with thedata signal from electrical processor 224. The output of modulator 228may be referred to as an optical signal that is transmitted at theparticular wavelength of laser 222.

The optical signal from multiple transmitters 220 may be multiplexedonto an optical fiber. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the multiplexingof optical signals onto an optical fiber. As shown in FIG. 3, eachtransmitter 220-1, 220-2, . . . , 220-M (M>1) may output an opticalsignal at particular wavelength λ₁, λ₂, . . . , λ_(M), respectively. Amultiplexer 310 includes a device that receives optical signals ofdifferent wavelengths and multiplexes the optical signals onto a singleoptical fiber, as multiplexed optical signals. This technique, ofmultiplexing multiple optical signals onto a single optical fiber usinglasers that transmit light at different wavelengths, is commonlyreferred to as wavelength-division multiplexing.

A basic problem faced by optical transport systems, such as opticaltransport system 100, is how to get more transport bandwidth on anoptical fiber. An optical fiber may be used to transmit an opticalsignal over a certain distance (e.g., local area (<500 m), metro (10km-100 km), regional (600 km-800 km), and wide area (1,600 km-2,000km)). As the distance of transmission increases, the more important itis to use lasers that are very narrow (i.e., very precise) intransmission bandwidth and that are cooled to within fine tolerances(e.g., within a few fractions of a degree Celsius). These narrowbandwidth lasers are very expensive. In a typical optical transportsystem, the cost of the optical-electrical-optical components mayconstitute over half of the cost of the optical transport system due to,among other things: (1) having to package the components of atransceiver including a separate laser per transceiver, (2) the cost ofthe lasers, and (3) having to cool the lasers to within fine tolerances.

Implementations, described herein, may remove the lasers from thetransceivers and replace them with a single laser bank that can be usedby all of the transceivers. As a result, better, more expensive laserscan be used and the cost of the lasers can be amortized.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a portion of a facility 400 in which systems andmethods, described herein, may be implemented. The term “facility,” asused herein, is intended to refer to a collection of optical transportsystems associated with a data center, a central office, a point ofpresence (POP), or the like. The components of a facility may be locatedin a single building or in multiple buildings spread apart by up to afew hundred meters.

As shown in FIG. 4, facility 400 may include a laser bank 405, amultiplexer 410, an amplifier 415, a splitter 420, a power detector 425,a set of demultiplexers 430-1, . . . , 430-F (referred to collectivelyas “demultiplexers 430,” and individually as “demultiplexer 430”), a setof transmitters 435-1.1, . . . , 435-F.N (referred to collectively as“transmitters 435,” and individually as “transmitter 435”), and a set ofmultiplexers 440-1, . . . , 440-F (referred to collectively as“multiplexers 440,” and individually as “multiplexer 440”). While FIG. 4shows a particular quantity and arrangement of components, in anotherimplementation, there may be fewer, additional, different, ordifferently arranged components. For example, facility 400 may include areceiver and possibly other components of an optical transport system,such as a switch fabric or a controller. Also, a function described asbeing performed by one component may be performed by another component.

Laser bank 405 may include an array of fixed lasers (i.e., lasers thatoutput light at fixed wavelengths) that are always turned on. Thelasers, of laser bank 405, may be tightly packed on a common substrate(e.g., a metal block). The temperature, within laser bank 405 betweentwo lasers, may be controlled to within a fraction of a degree Celsius.Thus, the temperature of the lasers, within laser bank 405, may trackvery closely to one another.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating one particular arrangement ofcomponents of laser bank 405. As shown in FIG. 5A, laser bank 405 mayinclude a substrate 510, an array of fixed lasers 520-1, . . . , 520-N(N>1, and in one particular implementation N>100) (collectively referredto as “lasers 520” and individually as “laser 520”), and a temperaturecontrol 530. While FIG. 5A illustrates a particular quantity andarrangement of components, in another implementation, there may befewer, additional, different, or differently arranged components. Forexample, temperature control 530 may be located external to laser bank405.

Substrate 510 may include a conductive material (e.g., metal) upon whichlasers 520 are mounted. Each of lasers 520 may include a continuous wave(CW) laser that is always turned on. Each of lasers 520 may beconstructed to transmit light at a different wavelength. Lasers 520 canbe packed tightly together on substrate 510, such as more tightly than50 GHz. Temperature control 530 may include a thermo-electric coolingsystem or another form of cooling that can control the temperature oflasers 520 so that all of lasers 520 are operating at approximately thesame temperature (e.g., with a maximum temperature difference betweenadjacent lasers being as small as a fraction of a degree Celsius). Inthis way, even if one of lasers 520 were to drift, the other lasers 520would drift in the same manner.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of laser bank 405. As shown in FIG. 5B, laser bank 405 mayinclude a substrate 510, an array of fixed lasers 520, a temperaturecontrol 530, a pool of tunable lasers 540, and a controller 550.Substrate 510, lasers 520, and temperature control 530 may be the sameas substrate 510, lasers 520, and temperature control 530, respectively,as described above with regard to FIG. 5A. While FIG. 5B illustrates aparticular quantity and arrangement of components, in anotherimplementation, there may be fewer, additional, different, ordifferently arranged components. For example, temperature control 530 orcontroller 550 may be located external to laser bank 405.

Tunable lasers 540 may include a pool of tunable lasers that arenormally turned off and turned on when needed. Each of tunable lasers540 may be controlled to operate at any wavelength in the C-band ofwavelengths (e.g., approximately 1530 nm-1565 nm). In anotherimplementation, each of tunable lasers 540 may be controlled to operateat any wavelength, whether within or outside of the C-band ofwavelengths. The purpose of tunable lasers 540 is to replace a failedone of fixed lasers 520. In other words, if one of fixed lasers 520fails, one of tunable lasers 540 can be turned on and tuned to thewavelength of the failed fixed laser 520, and can thereafter replace thefailed fixed laser 520. In one implementation, the swapping of a tunablelaser 540 for a failed fixed laser 520 can occur in less than amillisecond.

Controller 550 may include a processor or some other form of controlunit. Controller 550 may control the swapping of a tunable laser 540 fora failed fixed laser 520. For example, controller 550 may receive acontrol signal from power detector 425 and, based on this controlsignal, identify one of fixed lasers 520 as a failed laser that needs tobe swapped with a tunable laser 540, turn on tunable laser 540, and tunetunable laser 540 to the wavelength of the failed laser 520.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of laser bank 405. As shown in FIG. 5C, laser bank 405 mayinclude a substrate 510, a temperature control 530, a pool of tunablelasers 560, and a controller 570. Substrate 510 and temperature control530 may be the same as substrate 510 and temperature control 530,respectively, as described above with regard to FIG. 5A. While FIG. 5Cillustrates a particular quantity and arrangement of components, inanother implementation, there may be fewer, additional, different, ordifferently arranged components. For example, temperature control 530 orcontroller 570 may be located external to laser bank 405.

Tunable lasers 560 may include a pool of tunable lasers that may becontrolled to operate at any wavelength in the C-band of wavelengths(e.g., approximately 1530 nm-1565 nm). In another implementation, eachof tunable lasers 560 may be controlled to operate at any wavelength,whether within or outside of the C-band of wavelengths. A first group oflasers, of tunable lasers 560, may be set to particular wavelengths(e.g., N different wavelengths), and a second group of lasers, oftunable lasers 560, may be used in case of a failure of a laser in thefirst group. For example, the pool of tunable lasers may include Mtunable lasers that can operate in N different wavelengths (where M>N).Thus, the pool of tunable lasers may include M-N spare lasers. A sparelaser, in the second group of lasers, may be used to replace a failedlaser in the first group of lasers. In other words, if a laser, in thefirst group of lasers, fails, one of the spare lasers, in the secondgroup of lasers, can be turned on and tuned to the wavelength of thefailed laser, and can thereafter replace the failed laser. In oneimplementation, the swapping of a spare laser for a failed laser canoccur in less than a millisecond.

Controller 570 may include a processor or some other form of controlunit. Controller 570 may control the tuning of tunable lasers 560, andthe swapping of a spare laser for a failed laser. For example,controller 570 may receive a control signal from power detector 425 and,based on this control signal, identify one of lasers 560 as a failedlaser that needs to be swapped with a spare laser, turn on a sparelaser, and tune the spare laser to the wavelength of the failed laser.

Returning to FIG. 4, multiplexer 410 may include a multiplexer devicethat receives light of different wavelengths and multiplexes the lightonto a common optical fiber. For example, multiplexer 410 may receivethe light from the lasers of laser bank 405 and multiplex the light.

Amplifier 415 may include an optical amplifier that amplifies light. Forexample, amplifier 415 may receive the multiplexed light and amplify themultiplexed light by a particular amount. Assume, for example, thatsplitter 420 is a 1:F splitter, the amount of loss incurred due to thesplitting may be {−3 * Log₂F} dB. Thus, in this example, amplifier 415may amplify the multiplexed light by {3 * Log₂F} dB. Therefore, if Fequals 32, then the amount of loss incurred due to the splitting may be−15 db and, thus, amplifier 415 may amplify the multiplexed light by 15db to offset the loss incurred by the splitting. Loss may also occur ateach coupling of fibers. The coupling loss may be on the order of −1 dB.Amplifier 415 may also take into account this coupling loss. In someinstances, the laser power less the loss offsets might be much higher(or lower) than a minimum receiver threshold (e.g., the minimum amountof laser power required by the receiver). In such cases, the poweramplification requirements, of amplifier 415, can be lower (or higher)or not required at all.

Splitter 420 may include an optical splitter that receives light on aninput optical fiber and splits the light evenly among a set of outputoptical fibers. For example, splitter 420 may receive the multiplexedlight from amplifier 415 and split the multiplexed light onto a set ofoptical fibers. In one implementation, splitter 420 may split themultiplexed light by the quantity of fibers (e.g., 1:F splitter). Inanother implementation, splitter 420 may split the multiplexed light byone plus the quantity of fibers (e.g., 1:(1+F) splitter). In yet anotherimplementation, splitter 420 may split the multiplexed light by somesubset of the quantity of fibers (e.g., one split for each group of Gfibers (where G>1)).

Power detector 425 may include a device that monitors the power level ofthe light output by a laser and outputs a control signal when the powerlevel falls below a particular threshold. For example, power detector425 may monitor the power of the light output by each of the lasers oflaser bank 405 to determine whether the power level of any of the lasersfalls below the particular threshold. When the power level of aparticular fixed laser 520 falls below the particular threshold, powerdetector 425 may output a control signal, to laser bank 405, instructinglaser bank 405 to swap one of tunable lasers 540 for a particular fixedlaser 520. As explained above, this swapping can occur very quickly,such as in less than a millisecond. In one implementation, the controlsignal may include an identifier for the particular fixed laser 520.

Demultiplexer 430 may include a demultiplexer device that receivesmultiplexed light of different wavelengths and demultiplexes the lightonto separate optical fibers, such as one optical fiber per wavelength.For example, demultiplexer 430 may receive the multiplexed light fromsplitter 420 and demultiplex the light onto N optical fibers (e.g., oneoptical fiber for each of the N fixed lasers 520).

Transmitter 435 may include a collection of components to facilitate thetransmission of an optical signal. In one implementation, there may be aseparate transmitter 435 per wavelength and per optical fiber. In otherwords, if there are N wavelengths and F separate optical fibers, thenthere may be N * F transmitters 435. For example, for optical fiber 1,there may be transmitters 435-1.1 through 435-1.N; and for optical fiberF, there may be transmitters 435-F.1 through 435-F.N.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of components of transmitter435. As shown in FIG. 6, transmitter 435 may include an electricalprocessor 610, a driver 620, and a modulator 630. While FIG. 6 shows aparticular quantity and arrangement of components, in anotherimplementation, there may be fewer, additional, different, ordifferently arranged components. Also, a function described as beingperformed by one component may be performed by another component.

Electrical processor 610 may include a processor, or processing logic,that receives an electrical data signal and performs some form ofprocessing on the data signal. Driver 620 may include a driver circuitthat controls the operation of modulator 630. Modulator 630 may includea modulator circuit that modulates the light from demultiplexer 430 withthe data signal from electrical processor 610. In one implementation,modulator 630 may include a polarization insensitive modulator circuit.The output of modulator 630 may be referred to as an optical signal thatis transmitted at a particular wavelength (e.g., the particularwavelength of the light from demultiplexer 430).

As can be seen from a comparison of transmitter 435 (FIG. 5) totransmitter 220 (FIG. 2), transmitter 435 contains no laser. Rather, thelaser has been relocated to laser bank 405. Thus, rather than requiringN * F separate lasers, facility 400 includes N separate lasers that arereused. This greatly reduces the cost of transmitter 435 as compared totransmitter 220.

Returning to FIG. 4, multiplexer 440 may include a multiplexer devicethat receives optical signals of different wavelengths and multiplexesthe optical signals onto a common optical fiber. For example,multiplexer 440 may receive the optical signals from transmitters 435and multiplex the optical signals onto an optical fiber (e.g., one ofthe F optical fibers).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example of a process 700 for transmittingoptical signals on optical fibers. Process 700 may be performed bycomponents within a facility, such as facility 400. For the descriptionto follow, reference will be made to components of facility 400 in FIG.4.

Process 700 may include outputting light (block 710). For example, thefixed lasers (e.g., lasers 520), of laser bank 405, may output light atdifferent wavelengths. As described above, laser bank 405 may include Nfixed lasers 520, with each fixed laser 520 outputting light at adifferent wavelength. If all of fixed lasers 520 are operational, thentunable lasers 540 may be turned off at this time. If one or more offixed lasers 520 have previously failed, then these one or more fixedlasers 520 may have been replaced with tunable lasers 540, as describedabove.

The light may be multiplexed (block 720). For example, multiplexer 410may receive the light outputted by laser bank 405, multiplex the lightto create multiplexed light, and output the multiplexed light on acommon optical fiber. As described above, laser bank 405 may outputlight of N different wavelengths. Multiplexer 410 may receive these Ndifferent wavelengths of light, and multiplex the N differentwavelengths of light together to form multiplexed light.

The multiplexed light may be amplified (block 730). For example,amplifier 415 may receive the multiplexed light, from multiplexer 410,and amplify the multiplexed light. As described above, multiplexer 410may multiplex N different wavelengths of light. Amplifier 415 mayreceive the multiplexed N different wavelengths of light and amplify themultiplexed light across all of the N wavelengths.

The multiplexed light may be split (block 740). For example, splitter420 may receive the multiplexed light after being amplified by amplifier415. Splitter 420 may split the multiplexed light a particular number oftimes. In one implementation, splitter 420 may split the multiplexedlight for each of the optical fibers output from facility 400. Forexample, if there are F optical fibers, then splitter 420 may split themultiplexed light F times (e.g., a 1:F split).

In another implementation, splitter 420 may split the multiplexed lightfor each of the optical fibers, output from facility 400, plus one. Forexample, if there are F optical fibers, then splitter 420 may split themultiplexed light F+1 times (e.g., a 1:(F+1) split). The extra split maybe used by power detector 425 to detect a failed fixed laser 520.

In yet another implementation, splitter 420 may split the multiplexedlight for each of a number of subsets of the optical fibers output fromfacility 400. For example, if there are F optical fibers and G opticalfibers per subset, then splitter 420 may split the multiplexed light F/Gtimes (e.g., a 1:F/G split).

In a further implementation, splitter 420 may split the multiplexedlight for each of a number of subsets of the optical fibers, output fromfacility 400, plus one. For example, if there are F optical fibers and Goptical fibers per subset, then splitter 420 may split the multiplexedlight F/G+1 times (e.g., a 1:(F/G+1) split). The extra split may be usedby power detector 425 to detect a failed fixed laser 520.

For each split of the multiplexed light, blocks 750 through 780 may beperformed. For example, the multiplexed light may be demultiplexed(block 750). For example, demultiplexer 430 may receive a split of themultiplexed light and may demultiplex the multiplexed light. Asdescribed above, the multiplexed light may contain N differentwavelengths of light. Demultiplexer 430 may separate each of the Ndifferent wavelengths of light and output each of the N differentwavelengths of light on a separate optical fiber.

A data signal may be modulated on the light to form an optical signal(block 760). For example, a modulator 630 (FIG. 6) may receive a datasignal from electrical processor 610, as described above. Modulator 630may also receive light, of a particular wavelength, from demultiplexer430, and modulate the data signal on the light to form an opticalsignal. As shown in FIG. 4, each wavelength of light may be separatelymodulated for each of the different optical fibers output from facility400. In other words, if there are N different wavelengths and Fdifferent optical fibers, then N * F modulators 630 would produce N * Foptical signals.

The optical signals may be multiplexed and transmitted on an opticalfiber (blocks 770 and 780). For example, multiplexer 440 may receiveoptical signals from modulators 630 and multiplex the optical signals toform multiplexed optical signals. As described above, N differentmodulators 630 may produce N optical signals of N different wavelengths.Multiplexer 440 may receive the N optical signals outputted bymodulators 630, multiplex the optical signals to create multiplexedoptical signals, and output the multiplexed optical signals on a commonoptical fiber that exits facility 400.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a portion of a facility 800 according to anotherimplementation described herein. While FIG. 8 shows a particularquantity and arrangement of components, in another implementation, theremay be fewer, additional, different, or differently arranged components.For example, facility 800 may include a power detector similar to powerdetector 425 of FIG. 4. Also, a function described as being performed byone component, of facility 800, may be performed by another component,of facility 800.

As shown in FIG. 8, facility 800 may include a primary laser bank 405, asecondary laser bank 805, a primary multiplexer 410, a secondarymultiplexer 810, a primary amplifier 415, a secondary amplifier 815, acombiner 820, a splitter 420, a set of demultiplexers 430, a set oftransmitters 435, and a set of multiplexers 440. Primary laser bank 405,primary multiplexer 410, primary amplifier 415, splitter 420,demultiplexers 430, transmitters 435, and multiplexers 440 maycorrespond to similarly-labeled components described above with regardto FIG. 4.

Secondary laser bank 805 may be constructed identical to primary laserbank 405 and be used as a backup to primary laser bank 405. Similar toprimary laser bank 405, secondary laser bank 805 may include an array offixed lasers (e.g., lasers 520) and a pool of tunable lasers (e.g.,lasers 540), or an array of tunable lasers 560. When primary laser bank405 is operational, the lasers, of secondary laser bank 805, may beturned off. When it is determined that primary laser bank 405 has failed(e.g., when the quantity of fixed lasers, which have failed, equals orexceeds the quantity of available tunable lasers, or when the quantityof lasers, which have failed, equals or exceeds the quantity of sparelasers), the lasers, of secondary laser bank 805, may be turned on. Inthis case, the lasers, of primary laser bank 405, may be turned off andrepaired.

In an alternative implementation, both primary laser bank 405 andsecondary laser bank 805 may be operational at the same time. Forexample, certain lasers in primary laser bank 405 may be set as primarylasers for certain wavelengths and certain lasers in secondary laserbank 805 may be set as secondary lasers for these certain wavelengths,while certain other lasers in secondary laser bank 805 may be set asprimary lasers for certain other wavelengths and certain other lasers inprimary laser bank 405 may be set as secondary lasers for these certainother wavelengths. In other words, assume that lasers 1-10, in primarylaser bank 405, are set as primary lasers for wavelengths λ1-λ10; thatlasers 11-20, in primary laser bank 405, are set as secondary lasers forwavelengths λ1-λ20; that lasers 1-10, in secondary laser bank 805, areset as secondary lasers for wavelengths λ1-λ10; and that lasers 11-20,in secondary laser bank 805, are set as primary lasers for wavelengthsλ1-λ20. A secondary laser may be turned off and used in case of afailure in a primary laser. When a primary laser fails, the secondarylaser may be turned on to replace the failed primary laser.

Secondary multiplexer 810 and secondary amplifier 815 may includesimilar devices that operate in a similar manner to primary multiplexer410 and primary amplifier 415, respectively, as described above withregard to facility 400 in FIG. 4.

Combiner 820 may include an optical combiner that receives light on oneor more input optical fibers and combines the light on a common opticalfiber. In one implementation, combiner 820 may include a 2:1 opticalcombiner. Combiner 820 may receive the multiplexed light from amplifier415 or amplifier 815 (as described above, lasers of primary laser bank405 and/or secondary laser bank 805 may be operational and turned on andother lasers of primary laser bank 405 and/or secondary laser bank 805may be turned off and, thus, output no light) and output the multiplexedlight on an optical fiber connected to splitter 420.

In operation of facility 800, one of primary laser bank 405 or secondarylaser bank 805 may be turned on and may output light of differentwavelengths, and the other one of primary laser bank 405 or secondarylaser bank 805 may be turned off and may output no light. Alternatively,certain lasers of primary laser bank 405 and certain lasers of secondarylaser bank 805 may be turned on and may output light of differentwavelengths, and certain other lasers of primary laser bank 405 andcertain other lasers of secondary laser bank 805 may be turned off andmay output no light.

Combiner 820 may receive light from primary laser bank 405 and/orsecondary laser bank 805 (after multiplexing by multiplexer 410/810 andamplifying by amplifier 410/810), and provide the light to splitter 420.The rest of the operation of facility 800 may be similar to theoperation of facility 400 described above.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a portion of a facility 900 according to yetanother implementation described herein. While FIG. 9 shows a particularquantity and arrangement of components, in another implementation, theremay be fewer, additional, different, or differently arranged components.For example, facility 900 may include a power detector similar to powerdetector 425 of FIG. 4. Also, a function described as being performed byone component, of facility 900, may be performed by another component,of facility 900.

As shown in FIG. 9, facility 900 may include a primary laser bank 405, asecondary laser bank 805, a primary multiplexer 410, a secondarymultiplexer 810, a primary amplifier 415, a secondary amplifier 815, aprimary splitter 420, a secondary splitter 910, a set of combiners920-1, . . . , 920-F (referred to collectively as “combiners 920,” andindividually as “combiner 920”), a set of demultiplexers 430, a set oftransmitters 435, and a set of multiplexers 440. Primary laser bank 405,secondary laser bank 805, primary multiplexer 410, secondary multiplexer810, primary amplifier 415, secondary amplifier 815, primary splitter420, demultiplexers 430, transmitters 435, and multiplexers 440 maycorrespond to similarly-labeled components described above with regardto FIGS. 4 and 8.

Secondary splitter 910 may include a similar device that operates in asimilar manner to primary splitter 420, as described above with regardto facility 400 in FIG. 4. Each of combiners 920 may include an opticalcombiner that receives light on one or more input optical fibers andcombines the light on a common optical fiber. In one implementation,combiner 920 may include a 2:1 optical combiner. Combiner 920 mayreceive the multiplexed light from splitter 420 and/or splitter 910 (asdescribed above, lasers of primary laser bank 405 and/or secondary laserbank 805 may be operational and turned on and other lasers of primarylaser bank 405 and/or secondary laser bank 805 may be turned off and,thus, output no light) and output the multiplexed light on an opticalfiber connected to demultiplexer 430.

In operation of facility 900, one of primary laser bank 405 or secondarylaser bank 805 may be turned on and may output light of differentwavelengths, and the other one of primary laser bank 405 or secondarylaser bank 805 may be turned off and may output no light. Alternatively,as described above, certain lasers of primary laser bank 405 and certainlasers of secondary laser bank 805 may be turned on and may output lightof different wavelengths, and certain other lasers of primary laser bank405 and certain other lasers of secondary laser bank 805 may be turnedoff and may output no light.

Combiner 920 may receive light from primary laser bank 405 and/orsecondary laser bank 805 (after multiplexing by multiplexer 410/810,amplifying by amplifier 410/810, and splitting by splitter 420/910), andprovide the light to demultiplexer 430. The rest of the operation offacility 900 may be similar to the operation of facility 400 describedabove.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a portion of a facility 1000 according to afurther implementation described herein. While FIG. 10 shows aparticular quantity and arrangement of components, in anotherimplementation, there may be fewer, additional, different, ordifferently arranged components. For example, facility 1000 may includea power detector similar to power detector 425 of FIG. 4. Also, afunction described as being performed by one component, of facility1000, may be performed by another component, of facility 1000.

As shown in FIG. 10, facility 1000 may include a primary laser bank 405,a secondary laser bank 805, a primary multiplexer 410, a secondarymultiplexer 810, a primary amplifier 415, a secondary amplifier 815, aprimary splitter 420, a secondary splitter 910, a set of combiners 920,a set of demultiplexers 430, a set of transmitters 435, a set ofsplitters 1010-1, . . . , 1010-F/G, and a set of multiplexers 440.Primary laser bank 405, secondary laser bank 805, primary multiplexer410, secondary multiplexer 810, primary amplifier 415, secondaryamplifier 815, primary splitter 420, secondary splitter 910, combiners920, demultiplexers 430, transmitters 435, and multiplexers 440 maycorrespond to similarly-labeled components described above with regardto FIGS. 4, 8, and 9.

In facility 1000, however, the quantity of combiners 920, demultiplexers430, and transmitters 435 may differ from the quantity of combiners 920,demultiplexers 430, and transmitters 435 described with regard to FIGS.4 and 9. In facility 1000, a single combiner 920, a single demultiplexer430, and N transmitters 435 may be included for each subset of opticalfibers. For example, if there are G optical fibers in a subset ofoptical fibers and there are F optical fibers total, then facility 1000may include F/G combiners 920, F/G demultiplexers 430, and N * F/Gtransmitters 435.

Each of splitters 1010 may include an optical splitter that receiveslight on an input optical fiber and splits the light evenly among a setof output optical fibers. For example, splitter 1010 may receive anoptical signal (e.g., light, of a particular wavelength, that has beenmodulated with a data signal) from transmitter 435, and split theoptical signal onto a set of optical fibers. In one implementation,splitter 1010 may split the optical signal by the quantity of fibers inthe subset of optical fibers (e.g., 1:G splitter). In anotherimplementation, splitter 1010 may split the optical signal in anothermanner.

In operation of facility 1000, one of primary laser bank 405 orsecondary laser bank 805 may be turned on and may output light ofdifferent wavelengths, and the other one of primary laser bank 405 orsecondary laser bank 805 may be turned off and may output no light.

Alternatively, as described above, certain lasers of primary laser bank405 and certain lasers of secondary laser bank 805 may be turned on andmay output light of different wavelengths, and certain other lasers ofprimary laser bank 405 and certain other lasers of secondary laser bank805 may be turned off and may output no light.

Combiner 920 may receive light from primary laser bank 405 and/orsecondary laser bank 805 (after multiplexing by multiplexer 410/810,amplifying by amplifier 410/810, and splitting by splitter 420/910), andprovide the light to demultiplexer 430. Demultiplexer 430 may separatethe light by wavelength and provide the light, of each wavelength, to adifferent transmitter 435. Each of transmitters 435 may modulate a datasignal onto the light to form an optical signal, and may provide theoptical signal to a corresponding splitter 1010. Each of splitters 1010may split the optical signal by the quantity of fibers in each subset ofoptical fibers (e.g., G as shown in FIG. 10), and may provide eachoptical signal to a different one of multiplexers 440. Each ofmultiplexers 440 may receive optical signals of different wavelengths,may multiplex the optical signals, and may transmit the multiplexedoptical signals on an optical fiber.

While different quantities and arrangements of components have beendescribed with regard to the facilities of FIGS. 4 and 8-10, in otherimplementations, the quantity and/or arrangement of components, includedin a facility, may differ. Further, any one of the facilities, of FIGS.4 and 8-10, may include additional components or different componentsthan are described above. Also, different sets of components may bepackaged into a system. For example, a facility, such as facility 400,800, 900, or 1000, may generally include a laser system connected to anoptical transport system, as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating one particular arrangement ofcomponents of a laser system of FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 12A, a lasersystem may include laser bank 405, multiplexer 410, and amplifier 415.The components, of the laser system, may be packaged in a housing. Asshown in FIG. 12A, the laser system may include a single optical fiberoutput to a splitter 420 (FIG. 4) or a combiner 820 (FIG. 8). In thiscase, splitter 420 or combiner 820 may be located external to the lasersystem.

FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of a laser system of FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 12B, a lasersystem may include laser bank 405, multiplexer 410, amplifier 415, andsplitter 420. The components, of the laser system, may be packaged in ahousing. As shown in FIG. 12B, the laser system may include multipleoptical fiber outputs, one for each output of splitter 420. In thiscase, splitter 420 is located internal to the laser system.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating one particular arrangement ofcomponents of a portion of an optical transport system of FIG. 11. Asshown in FIG. 13A, an optical transport system may include a number ofcomponents associated with a subset of optical fibers (e.g., shown as Goptical fibers in FIG. 13A). For example, the optical transport systemmay include combiners 920, demultiplexers 430, transmitters 435, andmultiplexers 440. The components, of the optical transport system, maybe packaged in a housing. As shown in FIG. 13A, the optical transportsystem may include G optical fiber outputs, and may include 2 * G inputsfrom the laser systems (e.g., one input per laser system and per opticalfiber output).

FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating another particular arrangement ofcomponents of a portion of an optical transport system of FIG. 11. Asshown in FIG. 13B, an optical transport system may include a number ofcomponents associated with a subset of optical fibers (e.g., shown as Goptical fibers in FIG. 13B). For example, the optical transport systemmay include a combiner (shown as combiner 920-1), demultiplexers 430,transmitters 435, splitters (shown as a single splitter 1010-1), andmultiplexers 440. The components, of the optical transport system, maybe packaged in a housing. As shown in FIG. 13B, the optical transportsystem may include G optical fiber outputs, and may include two inputsfrom the laser systems (e.g., one input per laser system).

An implementation, described herein, may amortize the cost of expensiveoptical components, such as lasers, to reduce the overall cost of thefacility. Rather than including a separate laser in each transmitter ofan optical fiber interface, the lasers may be included in a laser bankthat permits the light to be used by all of the transmitters. Becausethe lasers are being reused, more expensive lasers can be used whilestill reducing the overall cost of the facility. The lasers may beconstructed to be very precise, which permits the lasers to transmit atlonger distances.

Also, the relative frequency of the lasers, with respect to one another,may be locked/fixed. The lasers may be packaged so that the lasers areall at the same approximate temperature (e.g., within a fraction of adegree Celsius), which lets the lasers drift together. The lasers may bepackaged tightly (e.g., more tightly than 50 GHz), which permits morewavelengths to be used in the C-band. As a result, more bandwidth may beused on a single optical fiber.

Power reduction may also be achieved over systems that include separatelasers in the transmitters of the optical fiber interfaces. Lasers haveto operate at controlled temperatures; otherwise, lasers fail. Byplacing the lasers on the same substrate in a laser bank, thetemperature of the lasers can be more easily controlled over lasersplaced close to the optical fiber interfaces.

Power reduction can be achieved by eliminating the need for separatetemperature control systems, and facilitating temperature control of thelasers in the laser bank.

The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.

For example, while a series of blocks has been described with regard toFIG. 7, the order of the blocks may be modified in otherimplementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed inparallel.

Also, certain portions of the implementations have been described as“logic” or a “component” that performs one or more functions. The terms“logic” or “component” may include hardware, such as a processor, anASIC, or a FPGA, or a combination of hardware and software (e.g.,software running on a processor).

Further, certain components have been described, with regard to FIGS. 4and 8-10, as being included in a facility. In one alternativeimplementation, the components of FIGS. 4 and 8- 10 may be included in asingle optical transport device.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of the invention. In fact, many ofthese features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependentclaim listed below may directly depend on only one other claim, thedisclosure of the invention includes each dependent claim in combinationwith every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitlydescribed as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended toinclude one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term“one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” isintended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly statedotherwise.

1-34. (canceled)
 35. A system comprising: a laser bank that includes: aplurality of fixed lasers, and one or more tunable lasers; a firstmultiplexer connected to the laser bank; an amplifier connected to thefirst multiplexer; a splitter connected to the amplifier; ademultiplexer connected to the splitter; a plurality of transmittersconnected to the demultiplexer; and a second multiplexer connected toone or more of the plurality of transmitters.
 36. The system of claim35, further comprising: another laser bank that includes a plurality oflasers.
 37. The system of claim 36, where the other laser bank furtherincludes: a temperature control to control a temperature of at least oneof the plurality of lasers.
 38. The system of claim 36, furthercomprising: a third multiplexer connected to the other laser bank; andanother amplifier connected to the third multiplexer.
 39. The system ofclaim 38, further comprising: a combiner connected to the otheramplifier; and another demultiplexer connected to the combiner.
 40. Thesystem of claim 39, further comprising: another plurality oftransmitters connected to the other demultiplexer.
 41. The system ofclaim 40, further comprising: a third multiplexer connected to one ormore of the other plurality of transmitters.
 42. A system comprising: alaser bank that includes: a plurality of fixed lasers, or a plurality oftunable lasers; a first multiplexer connected to the laser bank; anamplifier connected to the first multiplexer; a splitter connected tothe amplifier; and a plurality of optical transport systems connected tothe splitter, one of the plurality of optical transport systemsincluding: a demultiplexer connected to the splitter, a plurality oftransmitters connected to the demultiplexer, and a second multiplexerconnected to one or more of the plurality of transmitters.
 43. Thesystem of claim 42, further comprising: another laser bank that includesa plurality of lasers; and a third multiplexer connected to the otherlaser bank.
 44. The system of claim 43, further comprising: anotheramplifier connected to the third multiplexer; and a second splitterconnected to the other amplifier.
 45. The system of claim 44, furthercomprising: a combiner connected to the second splitter.
 46. The systemof claim 42, where the one of the plurality of optical transport systemsfurther includes: another splitter connected to one of the plurality oftransmitters.
 47. The system of claim 42, where the laser bank furtherincludes: a substrate, the plurality of fixed lasers or the plurality oftunable lasers being mounted on the substrate, and a temperature controlto control a temperature of the plurality of fixed lasers or theplurality of tunable lasers.
 48. The system of claim 42, furthercomprising: a power detector to monitor a power level of light output bythe plurality of fixed lasers or the plurality of tunable lasers, thepower detector being connected to the splitter.
 49. A system comprising:a laser bank that includes a plurality of lasers; a first multiplexerconnected to the laser bank; an amplifier connected to the firstmultiplexer; a splitter connected to the amplifier; and a plurality ofoptical transport systems connected to the splitter, one of theplurality of optical transport systems including: a demultiplexerconnected to the splitter, a plurality of transmitters connected to thedemultiplexer, and a second multiplexer connected to one or more of theplurality of transmitters.
 50. The system of claim 49, where the one ofthe plurality of optical transport systems further includes: anothersplitter, where the one or more of the plurality of transmitters areconnected to the other splitter, and where the other splitter isconnected to the second multiplexer.
 51. The system of claim 49, furthercomprising: another laser bank; a third multiplexer connected to theother laser bank; another amplifier connected to the third multiplexer;and another splitter connected to the other amplifier.
 52. The system ofclaim 51, where the other laser bank further includes: a temperaturecontrol to control a temperature of a laser included in the other laserbank.
 53. The system of claim 51, further comprising: a combinerconnected to the splitter and the other splitter.
 54. The system ofclaim 49, further comprising: a power detector to monitor a power levelof light output by one of the plurality of lasers, the power detectorbeing connected to the splitter.